Quake felt across Maryland, but little damage reported

Maryland officials say the earthquake was felt across the state, but no injuries or major damage are being reported.

Maryland Emergency Management Agency spokesman Ed McDonough says Tuesday’s 5.8 magnitude quake, which was centered in Virginia, was felt from Garrett County to Somerset County, but only a few serious incidents are being reported.

The Maryland Transportation Authority closed the Harry W. Nice Bridge temporarily, but all other tunnels and bridges remained open.

State police spokesman Greg Shipley says all special operations teams are on standby.

State Highway Administration spokesman Charlie Gischlar says there are no reports of damage to highways, but bridge inspectors are being sent to examine longer spans in the Washington suburbs. Crews are being sent to western Maryland roads prone to rock slides.

Gov. Martin O’Malley, who held a conference call with emergency management officials in an office where small flakes from the ceiling of the nation’s oldest statehouse in continuous legislative use could be seen on a table, noted the unusual nature of the event.

“There are probably people on the West Coast who are laughing at us, but this doesn’t happen here a lot,” O’Malley said.